Minions Take Day Off to Entertain at Panda Path

There was nothing despicable about it, really, when minions showed up recently to visit students at Panda Path PreK Center.

The minions delighted the three- and four-year olds, who sat on the curb outside, greeting and high-fiving the capsule-shaped characters and their leader, Gru, from the “Despicable Me” movies.

But Santa was still the star of this show, and he made his way inside behind the minions, taking a seat in his special chair to greet and to give each Panda Path student a gift. Students retreat to their classrooms where they open their gifts, which include Lego sets, toy cars, toy tea sets, building blocks and more.

Panda Path partner Seitel is the tangible force behind the annual Santa visit and this year’s minions. Seitel, a West Houston-based provider of onshore seismic data to the oil and gas industry, adopted Panda Path in 2006.

The donations come from company employees, both through straight contribution and through other means, such as raffles, said Richard Kelvin, chief technology officer at Seitel.
The minions? Kelvin said they were the brainchild of his colleague Liza Yellott, who bought the costumes for Seitel’s Halloween event and who “decided (the minions) would complement Santa,” Kelvin said.

Seitel first presented “The Cat in the Hat” at Panda Path (also Yellott’s idea, said Kelvin), which has spread to other SBISD partners performing the play at PreK centers across the district.
“Our employees really do get a lot out of our relationship with the district and with Panda Path in particular,” said Kelvin. “The district makes it easy for us to get involved.”

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Students View Science Up Close With Electron Microscope

Fifth-graders Charlotte Bell and Sarah Haywood marvel at what they’ve seen in recent days through the digital lens and desktop computer screen of a donated scanning electron microscope, or Hitachi TM3030 Electron Microscope.

The electron microscope is being loaned out this year for student use to nine Spring Branch ISD campuses, starting with Charlotte and Sarah’s micro-school site, Spring Branch Academic Institute, which is housed on the second floor at Valley Oaks Elementary School.

This electron microscope is similar to an optical microscope, but it generates very high-resolution images by using electrons instead of light. Since the wavelength of electrons is much smaller than a wavelength of light, higher resolutions are possible.

Such microscopes can be found in few public schools and – quite rarely – in an elementary-level school or classroom. Hitachi picks schools and districts for equipment loans in the United States. The highly gifted campus at Valley Oaks is reportedly the only elementary in Texas to be provided use of such an electron microscope.

The Spring Branch Academic Institute now serves students at two SBISD campus locations who have been identified as very highly gifted in one or more areas. Younger students attend Valley Oaks Elementary; a secondary site based at Stratford High School now serves middle and high school-age students. The institute enrolls 96 students in all this year.

Like their classmates, Charlotte and Sarah have been instructed in preparing data samples, making observations, analyzing data and making many of their own decisions. On this day, they were looking at red-colored sugar through the advanced microscope.

“It looks like diamonds!” exclaims Charlotte as they focus in, and focus in, and then focus in even more, stopping at magnification 30,000 times normal viewing, Sarah explains.

“You really learn about things up close with this microscope. The object might look smooth when you hold it in your hand, but then it’s rough and rugged up close,” she says. “I appreciate using the electron microscope. Most students don’t get to ever use one.”

View related microscope images and student comments >>

The Hitachi TM3030 appears small, about the size of a computer tower, but contains all the incredible power of a scanning electron microscope. Such microscopes are used in just about every facet of manufacturing worldwide today, and support science research and discovery.

Patrick Marks, Hitachi product manager for desktop microscopes, spoke about the need for high technology science equipment in a promotional video for the device being used at St. Mark’s School, London, one of that city’s most exclusive private schools. Hitachi has a similar microscope in that British school.

“It’s important that we take Hitachi’s advanced technologies out and into the education arena, getting people involved in science, getting people involved in manufacturing for a brighter future,” he said.

“My students have loved having the microscope just as much as I have,” Spring Branch Academic Institute teacher Kayman McIver said. “It is set up such that they can explore and try things out on their own. This allows me the freedom to question them about what they are seeing and to challenge them to ask higher-level questions about what they see.”

Charlotte and Sarah, and their classmates, brought in specimens that interested them. These included bugs and insects, common school supplies, and local plants. They also examined things that appear rather similar in “real” life, but are quite different under the microscope. They compared sugar and salt and a human eyelash and eyebrow, for example.

McIver trained her students in proper microscope use and sample preparation, and then turned them loose using a cross-curriculum model for their experiences. Math skills were used to understand magnification and scale. Students researched famous scientists who used microscopes in their work and discoveries. McIver said that students even looked at pointillism art using small strokes or dots and how it compares to how an electron microscope works.

“Our students are highly gifted in a variety of areas, and they all love some aspect of science,” McIver said. “These students love new experiences and challenges, and they respond well to independent exploration that relates to the real world. This microscope has brought all these things together in our classroom.”

In addition to the two campuses for the highly gifted, the Hitachi TM3030 Electron Microscope will travel through the district next semester making stops in the secondary science classrooms at seven campuses.

The campuses include Northbrook, Spring Woods and Stratford high schools, and Northbrook, Spring Woods, Spring Oaks and Landrum middle schools. Teachers received training in the use and application of the special Hitachi microscope earlier.

SBISD Science Director Donald Burken and Science Instructional Lead Ro Luecken helped secure the Hitachi microscope loan.

“Ro and Donald deserve big accolades for bringing this to our district and opening up the opportunity to benefit from it to our youngest students,” McIver said. “I expect that many of these same children will pursue careers in science and engineering. Allowing them to begin using this type of technology is just one way that we can give them all an educational advantage.”

“I can only imagine the look on a college professor’s face in 15 years when one of my students tells them that they first used a scanning electron microscope when they were 6 years old.”

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Spring Branch Education Foundation’s Ungala Benefits Grants and Scholarships

SBEF Strong Ungala Co-chairs Paul and Kristi Robishaw and Becky and Brett Fenn

Becky and Brett Fenn and Kristi and Paul Robishaw welcomed more than 400 guests to the SBEF Strong Ungala on November 11. The co-chairs planned the evening to toast the area’s amazing care for neighbors after Hurricane Harvey. Generous party-goers raised more than $161,000 for Spring Branch Education Foundation to enhance education in Spring Branch ISD through grants and scholarships; $17,600 was specifically earmarked for 2018 graduates during the Raise the Paddle for Scholarships portion of the evening. The casual chic evening included casino games, finger foods, interesting auction items and dancing to The Royal Dukes Band.

About Spring Branch Education Foundation:
Spring Branch Education Foundation is committed to supporting SBISD students and educators. It partners with the district and community to fund programs that enhance education and ̅students for the future. In 2016, Caruthers Institute ranked SBEF 42nd in the nation among 188 K-12 education foundations and in the top 10 of its division of foundations with $1 million to $1,999,999 in revenues. Since 1993, the Foundation has donated more than $11 million to the district. SBEF is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax deductible.

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Greater Houston Community Foundation awards $500,000 to SBEF Harvey Relief Fund

SBISD families have a million reasons to be thankful

The Greater Houston Community Foundation (GHCF) has awarded $500,000 to the Spring Branch Education Foundation Harvey Relief Fund. The grant was announced this week. The gift brings the SBEF Harvey Relief Fund to more than $1 million, according to SBEF Executive Director Cece Thompson.

On November 15, the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, administered by GHCF, announced the second round of grants totaling $28.9 million to 90 nonprofit organizations to provide services and support to flood victims. SBEF was one of three education-related relief funds to receive a grant.

Thompson said, “As far as we know, the SBEF Harvey Relief Fund is the only one that specifically helps families in Spring Branch ISD. Our gifts help families fill gaps not met by other local and federal efforts. Since the Fund is managed by SBEF staff, there are no administrative costs. Every dollar goes directly to SBISD student and staff families who were displaced by Harvey.”

SBEF continues to distribute Target and Walmart gift cards to help families meet their most pressing needs, whether it’s food, clothing or supplies. The Foundation has awarded grants of $50,000 to Community In Schools – Houston (CIS), which identifies specific needs. CIS provides vouchers to families to assist with rent, utilities and other necessities.

SBISD officials estimate there are as many as 1,000 student and staff families displaced by Harvey. Others may be identified. The district uses the Student Residency Questionnaire (SRQ) to make this assessment for students. Generally completed at the time of enrollment, the SRQ can be updated throughout the school year as living situations change. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, living situations may reflect substandard living conditions (no electricity, for example); or living in a shelter, with friends or relatives, in a hotel/motel, transitional housing or unsheltered locations such as a car or tent.

SBEF’s mission is to support students and educators to enhance education and prepare students for a successful future. The SBEF Harvey Relief Fund helps staff and students be prepared for each school day.

Community members who wish to donate to the SBEF Harvey Relief Fund may visit the SBEF Harvey Relief Fund site.

About Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund
The Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund (HHRF) was established to provide support and relief to those impacted by Hurricane Harvey in the Harris County and Houston area (which may include City residents in Fort Bend of Montgomery County). The fund was established by Mayor Turner and Harris County Judge Emmett and is administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation. This HHRF is one of many critical philanthropic efforts across Houston and Texas that is supporting those whose lives have forever been impacted by this disaster. Because of the immense need in an around Houston, this fund is dedicated to filling the gaps that are not currently being met by other local and federal efforts on an immediate and longer-term basis.

About Spring Branch Education Foundation:
Spring Branch Education Foundation is committed to supporting SBISD students and educators. It partners with the district and community to fund programs that enhance education and ̅students for the future. In 2016, Caruthers Institute ranked SBEF 42nd in the nation among 188 K-12 education foundations and in the top 10 of its division of foundations with $1 million to $1,999,999 in revenues. Since 1993, the Foundation has donated more than $11 million to the district. SBEF is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax deductible.

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Houston’s Via Colori Street Art Festival to Showcase SBISD Student Artists

Over 200 international artists will converge on the streets of Houston to create public art and raise funds for The Center for Hearing and Speech, a local non-profit that serves children with hearing loss, as part of the city’s Via Colori Street Art Festival.

The festival, Saturday, Nov. 18 through Sunday, Nov. 19, will transform sidewalks near downtown City Hall into a massive outdoor gallery space.   Click here for event highlights and times.

This year, Spring Woods High School artist Raul Gomez, Spring Woods High School Class of 2018, will represent the Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) in the annual event.

Gomez loves creating art and it’s something he wants to pursue as a profession after high school graduation. Gomez’s design for the festival, a 3-dimensional drawing of a Volkswagen bus, was created to honor the festival’s theme of decades.

Smiling as he shares his sketch for the work, it’s obvious he’s excited and proud to be representing the school district at the festival. For Gomez, it’s about being part of the larger art community while sharing with those around him.

“It’s about my teachers, my friends, my school and my school district. There are a lot of things to make me feel proud about this,” said Gomez. “It’s not just me. It’s all of us. It’s about everyone coming together and sharing this experience.”

Ask art educator Rene Kleaver, fondly known as Miss K at Spring Woods High School, what she thinks about Gomex and her high school representing the district at the annual festival, and it’s obvious she is beyond thrilled to be part of a collaboration that extends the positive impact of the creative arts.

Kleaver is assisting fellow art educator, Rebekah Tee, to coordinate student artist for the festival. Students will be actively engaged in creating art during the festival, doing chalk work as well as running a face-painting booth.

Both educators see the opportunity as a way to expand the campus art program and empowering students to be part of a much large dialogue about what it means to be a community.

“We’re having our students be leaders,” said Kleaver. “We have great talent here. It’s about showcasing that talent and giving back.” As part of that giving back, high school participants will mentor middle school art students in their feeder patterns to train them on the ins and outs of a community art project experience.

This focus on growing and connecting student artist within the school community and across the district is something that Kleaver and Tee see as critical when defining what student participation and success look like.

“Art is incredibly important to the development of the individual and to the collective,” said Kleaver.

“Being part of something like this connects kids to the idea that they can do this as a profession. It creates a situation where kids see artists making art and being successful. It connects them to the steps necessary to be successful. If you want to be an artist you can do it. There is power in that.”

Connecting students to real-world experiences and pathways to career success directly supports the district goal of Spring Branch T-2-4.

“This is a little seed we’re trying to grow a big tree from,” said Kleaver. That tree is being watered and grown by District Arts Coordinator Sally Doyle.

Doyle is making an investment by purchasing street art kits for use across the school district.  District art students can connect and collaborate across the system using these resources.

“Proud. It’s amazing. I am proud to be part of this work,” said student artist Dorian Jordan, Spring Woods High School Class of 2018. Dorian is a Leading Junior Artist for the Via Colori Festival. This is the third street art festival for Dorian.

“This is what it is,” says Dorian. “This is the group, and it’s amazing. It makes you want to be part of something bigger than yourself.”

General admission tickets for the festival are currently on sale for $10. Click here to learn more. For directions and a map of the festival, click here.

 “This is not the end goal. This is the beginning of great things,” said Kleaver. “This is setting the tone and the bar for student artist in our school district. The power of public art and giving back is bringing our art and campus communities together, and that’s a wonderful thing to be part of.”

If you’re interested in supporting the outstanding art programming in SBISD, contact district Art Coordinator, Sally Doyle at sally.doyle@springbranchisd.com.

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NASA Engineer Inspires SPIRAL Students

Former NASA engineer Jerry Woodfill was among the first to hear the Apollo 13 crew’s call for help, “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” Today, he reaches out to students to help them reach for the stars in their own lives.

On Nov. 6, Woodfill spoke to the district’s SPIRAL program for gifted and talented students at The Bendwood School. He shared his experiences as a NASA engineer and as a young student, including his own failing grades in elementary school.

“Mr. Woodfill did a great job inspiring and entertaining our SPIRAL students,” said program teacher Molly Nipper. “He shared his challenges as a young school kid, up through college at Rice University. He overcame challenges. I think that all kids and adults should hear his story.”

Woodfill worked for NASA at the Johnson Space Center for 52 years. Working as a warning system engineer, He contributed to the designs of both the Columbia and Eagle spacecraft warning systems.

He was at his duty station when the Apollo 13 crew radioed in to confirm an alert from his own warning system about the dire situation that might have resulted in the loss of the entire crew.

An explosion on board forced the Apollo 13 to circle the moon without landing in 1970. With only limited power, little potable water and increasing carbon dioxide levels resulting in critically needed, makeshift repairs, the crew returned to Earth safely six days after launch on April 17, 1970.

For his work, Woodfill was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom as a member of Apollo’s Mission Operations Team.

He arrived here in 1960 after earning a Rice University basketball scholarship, and later graduated with an electrical engineering degree from the private college. So impressed by hearing President Kennedy’s famous 1962 Rice Stadium “Moon Race” speech, Woodfill joined NASA three years later.

He was the Apollo Moon program’s Spacecraft Warning System Engineer, the only NASA employee to serve in this critical role.

In addition to the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Woodfill has received NASA’s Power of One and Educational Outreach Volunteer awards, to name a few. One thing he shared with students, along with his life and career story, was the oath created for the Apollo Team:
   

Oath of an Apollo 13
I will do my best to achieve success in my goals.
Neither fear, failure, nor frustration shall overcome me.
I am unstoppable, unmovable, and unshakable.
FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION
HAVE THE RIGHT STUFF

Woodfill also gave every student at the Bendwood event a wrist band that stated, “Failure is NOT an Option – I have the Right Stuff.”

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Spartan Spirit in the Streets of NYC

Report compiled from stories written by the Stratford High Oracle’s Maddie Suerth and Dina Kesbeh of the Memorial Examiner

This year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade will be extra special for the Spartanaires, because they are going to be dancing in it. The New York City-based parade has been a tradition since 1924 and takes place on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23.

In the midst of all the colorful floats and groups participating, the Spartanaires drill team will be dancing with many other drill teams in this year’s televised event. During the weeklong Thanksgiving break, the team will fly out to New York to take part in the event and festivities.

As it continues to impact so much, Hurricane Harvey led to a pause on travel planning. Several Spartanaires and their families were impacted directly by storm flooding. But a way forward was found to make the trip affordable for all the team members.

“I think that it will be good to meet drill teams from other schools. It will be very interesting to get to know the girls we are going to be performing with and see where they come from. This is also a good performance opportunity for our team to showcase what we can do,” junior Morgan Vandervoort said.

To participate in the parade, the Spartanaires had to score above a certain rank for their team routine at competition last year and they found out they qualified for the parade during the award ceremony that night. After flying out, the Spartanaires will take a few dance classes and learn the routine they will perform in the parade. They will rehearse it many times before showcasing their work.

“While I am ecstatic to perform in the parade, what I am most looking forward to is getting closer as a team. We are going to be spending a whole week together in New York and I am excited to bond with everyone. We still have the rest of the year together and being united as a team [in New York City] will make us stronger as a whole and will allow us to be more successful,” senior Spartanaires Col. Erin Collins said.

The team will also be doing many other activities while in New York, including seeing the Broadway plays Wicked and Anastasia, as well as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

On the morning of the parade, the Spartanaires will wake up at 3:30 a.m. in order to get ready for event roll call at 4:30 a.m. Later, they will walk in the parade.

Stratford Spartanaires have participated in the Macy’s Day Parade before, the most recent being 2013 with a different batch of dancers. This will be a new experience for all Spartanaires, whose annual trips have been to Disney World and Dallas.

“I am most excited about hanging with my friends in New York, as well as performing in the parade. It will be so much fun to experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity together,” junior Mary Kate Guerre said.

The parade invitation to the Spartanaires was made by invitation by Spirit of America Productions. The team submitted several videos of their dance routines, and had to be rated high enough on each one to earn a parade invite. The Spartanaires Director told the Memorial Examiner that the production company lowered its participation costs because of Harvey’s impact on many team members and their families.

“Most of the girls that were impacted by the flood thought they wouldn’t be able to go, but now can because of this discount,” said director Julie Vinyard.

Watch the Macy’s Day Parade on local NBC station KPRC-TV2.

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Service Puppy Pumps Up Veterans Day Event

Left to right: Gabby Carrelli, U.S. Marine Corps Retired Col. Stan Horton, Christina Pleasant and Catherine Piskurich gather at Spring Forest Middle's Veterans Day celebration with Astro, who will soon be trained as a service dog for a qualifying U.S. military veteran.

Astro, a 10-week old Golden Retriever puppy who will soon be trained as a service dog for a qualifying U.S. military veteran, won the hearts and minds of attendees gathered Friday morning at Spring Forest Middle School.

The playful puppy joined two other service dogs in training, labradors Beau and Dude, at the 17th annual Veterans Day Celebration hosted at this west Houston campus.

Patriot Paws, the College Station, Texas,-based service dog training group, bought Astro through donations from Spring Forest Middle students, faculty and families. Patriot Paws has attended the veterans celebration for years.

As part of the school’s Astro fund-raising effort, students were able to name their retriever. Friday was his first campus event appearance., but based on his popularity may not be the last.

Astro will begin training for a later match with a returning veteran physically disabled or suffering from anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) issues. Nationally, Patriot Paws has about 60 service dogs in training, with its College Station branch sponsoring about 18 dogs and puppies.

“In the beginning, it was the dogs that really drew me in, but I quickly fell in love with the puppies and the overall program, especially the veterans. The veterans’ lives and the stories that they share about their service dogs is so important to me now,” said Texas A&M University student and Patriot Paws puppy trainer Jackie Fruit. She has worked with the group several years.

Left to right: SBISD Trustee J. Carter Breed, Army veteran Ed Dyer and Spring Forest’s program keynote speaker, U.S. Army veteran Katherine Meadows

In addition to heartwarming Astro and brothers in training Beau and Dude, Spring Forest’s program keynote speaker this year was U.S. Army veteran Katherine Meadows. She holds the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for her years of overseas service as a military logistics and transportation officer.

She joined the U.S. Army after her graduation through a ROTC commission She was commissioned in 2004. Her Iraqi military assignments were varied and included warehouse development and operations, soldier deployment, troop monitoring and movement, cargo delivery for five Army brigades, and logistics for future doctrine and force structure design.

Meadows retired medically from the U.S. Army in 2011. She now works for the Houston-based Defense Logistics Agency Energy Americas East. As a specialist in inventory management, she manages the bulk fuel distribution system in areas ranging from pipelines to tanker trucks for 22 fuel sites.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Jacksonville State University in Alabama. Today, the Army veteran officer is studying to earn a master’s degree in business administration and qualitative analytics through Indiana University, located in Bloomington, Ind.

In addition to the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, Meadows holds numerous military awards. They include the Army Commendation and Achievement medals, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge.

Masters of ceremony for this year’s Veterans Day Celebration were students, Ana Ramirez, Paige Clark, Ainsley Lewis and Catherine Piskurich. SBISD’s Naval Jr. ROTC students presented the colors.

Special music was provided by the Spring Forest Middle Orchestra, Star Spangled Banner; Stratford High’s Gavin Young, Reveille and Taps; Spring Forest Middle Symphonic Band, American Patrol; and Spring Forest Middle Choir, A Salute to Our Veterans.

Dozens of area veterans of all ages were honored inside the campus gym with an overwhelming and a sustained standing student ovation during the Procession of Veterans entry. Each veteran was also introduced, by name and military division. A special slide show honored them, too.

Bobcat sponsors included BBMC Mortgage; Jennings Orthodontics; Chick Fil A-Dairy Ashford; Laird Law Firm PC; Girish Bharwani, DDS; Leigh-Leigh’s Little Lagniappe; J. Carter Breed; Medi Weight Loss; Norton Creative; Hudella Real Estate Companies; and Heritage Texas Properties.

Donations were also made by Kolache Factory and Pro Shop Embroidery.

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Service Puppy and Army Transportation Officer Share Spotlight at Spring Forest Middle Veterans Day Events

Keynote speaker, U.S. Army veteran, Katherine Meadows, is a Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient.

A Golden Retriever puppy sponsored by student donations and former U.S. Army Logistics and Transportation officer will be featured during the Friday, Nov. 10, Veterans Day Celebration at Spring Forest Middle School.

The middle school celebration has been held 17 years in a row. It begins on Friday with an 8 a.m. family breakfast and 9 a.m. gym program. Spring Forest’s live event is the largest campus-based Veterans Day observance held on Houston’s west side. The school address is 14240 Memorial Drive.

This year’s observance will include at least two highlights. Patriot Paws, a service dog training group based at Texas A&M University, is expected to exhibit a Golden Retriever puppy. The young service dog, named Astro, is in training and was purchased with funds donated by Spring Forest Middle students, staff and families.

In addition, keynote speaker is a U.S. Army veteran, Katherine Meadows, a Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient. She holds her bachelor’s degree in business management from Jacksonville State University in Alabama. She joined the U.S. Army after her graduation through a ROTC commission as a Transportation Officer. She was commissioned in 2004.

Her overseas Iraqi military assignments were varied and complex, including warehouse development and operations, soldier deployment, troop monitor and movement, cargo delivery involving five Army brigades, transportation networks, and logistics for future doctrine and force structure design.

Meadows retired for medical reasons from the U.S. Army in 2011. She now works for Defense Logistics Agency Energy Americas East in Houston. As an Inventory Management Specialist, her manages the bulk fuel distribution system in areas ranging from pipelines to tanker trucks for 22 fuel sites.

The Army veteran officer is studying to earn a master’s degree in business administration and qualitative analytics through Indiana University, located in Bloomington, Ind.

In addition to the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, Meadows holds numerous military awards. These include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge.

Read biography of Katherine Meadows >>

To RSVP for Friday’s breakfast event, please call 713.251.4618. Separate Veterans Day events are scheduled on Friday at other SBISD campuses, including Spring Branch Middle School.

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Treasure Forest Elementary Celebrates with Astros Mascot Orbit

Thumping music and the cheering of hundreds of students at Treasure Forest Elementary Schools filled the air as a large, fuzzy, green visitor took center stage to lead a campus celebration of books and literacy earlier this week in SBISD.

Rocking some spectacular dance moves, the Houston Astros’ mascot, Orbit, made his way through the crowd, high-fiving students, and bebopping to energetic tunes along the way. The timing of the celebration could not have been more perfect and was one of two visits the mascot made in Spring Branch ISD, the other being to Hollibrook Elementary School earlier in the week.

Watch Video >>

The fun began with a rousing reminder of the Houston Astros’ recent World Championship win. Both students and adults went wild, and the energy didn’t stop there.  Through cheering contests, t-shirt giveaways, and a lively three-strikes activity the room was alive with excitement about the visitor and the message of achieving excellence through education.

The event, supported by the Barbara Bush Foundation, was one of the several activities the Foundation’s supported at Treasure Forest, Hollibrook Elementary, and other schools around the district.

Treasure Forest received support to launch the My Home Library initiative last school year with every student receiving six new books to build an at-home, personal reading library. Campus Librarian, Shanda Fraser, is preparing for an additional six books for each student this semester from the organization.

Earlier this month 700 students at Hollibrook collected their six new books as part of the initiative, and in the wake of Tropic Storm Harvey, the program has expanded to include additional campuses impacted by storm flooding.

In all, up to 2,500 SBISD students will receive My Home Library books this school year through the organization; up to 25,00 students across the Houston area. Read more about Hollibrook’s My Home Library book giveaway here.

As the cheering faded and Orbit waved goodbye, students began to file out of the gym and toward class exiting through the campus library. Librarian Fraser watching them face beaming and a bebop in her step. 

Learn more about the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation and related philanthropic opportunities.

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